Base station, wireless headset and headband thereto

ABSTRACT

A base station and wireless headset where the headset is powered by a contained rechargeable battery and where the base station has a cradle with charging output contact points and the headset has a cradle-neck with charging input contact points. The base station in a surface region at the cradle includes a first surface mounted magnetic means displaying a first magnetic polarization and a second surface mounted magnetic means adjacent thereto and displaying a second magnetic polarization which is opposite the first magnetic polarization. The headset at a corresponding surface region at the cradle neck includes at least a further surface mounted magnetic means displaying only one of the first or the second polarization so as to ensure attraction forces and repulsion forces respectively between this further magnetic means and the two magnetic means at the bases station cradle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/923,799,filed Oct. 7, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,494,205, which was based on U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/249,620, filed Oct. 8, 2009. Allpriorities are claimed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a base station, wireless headset andheadband thereto where the headset is powered by a rechargeable batterytherein. The base station has a cradle with charging output contactpoints, the headset has a cradle-neck with charging input contactpoints, the wireless headset further includes attachment sitescorresponding to holding elements on the headband.

BACKGROUND ART

Wireless headsets which may be worn alone on one ear or may be seated inand worn with a headband are known, and also it is known to provide arechargeable battery with the headset. In such prior art systems a basestation is customary, and the headset may be seated or cradled herein togain contact with charging points to establish a charging voltage on therechargeable battery. In such prior art systems, the cradling of theheadset is often prohibited when the headset is mounted in the headband,or possibly the headband sticks out of the base station at an odd angleand constitutes a nuisance to the user at the desk where such a systemis usually parked.

A wireless headset with a rechargeable battery and base station theretowhere the headset may be used with or without a headband and whererecharging of the rechargeable battery is facilitated both with theheadset alone and through the headband when the headset is mounted inthe headset is thus desired. When the headset battery is charged througha connection running in the headband, further design options becomeavailable, such as the provision of a large and exchangeable ear muff,and charging with the headband pointing out of the base station at thesame angle irrespective of the positioning of a microphone boom arm.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

An object of the invention is achieved by a base station, wirelessheadset and headband thereto where the headset is powered by arechargeable battery comprised therein and where the base station has acradle with charging output contact points and the headset has acradle-neck with charging input contact points. The wireless headsetfurther comprises attachment sites corresponding to holding elements onthe headband, wherein the headband comprises a headband cradle portionwith charging output points corresponding to the charging input pointsof the headset, and a headband cradle-neck with charging input points,corresponding to the base station charging output points. The charginginput points at the cradle neck portion of the headband and the chargingoutput points at the cradle portion of the headband are connectedthrough electric leads.

With the invention a system comprising a base station, a headset and aheadband is provided wherein the greatest possible flexibility may bebuilt into the system, such that the charging connection points at thebase station are connectable to corresponding charging points at eitherthe headset alone or at the headband part. By having charging points atboth headband and the headset the headband which has a long bow partdesigned to reach across the head of a user will always come out of thebase station in the same angle and can be arranged not to be in the wayof other appliances residing on the desk or other working space of theuser. Further, the cradle neck arrangement at the headband and theheadset allows the user to remove the headset or the headband withheadset with one hand, and cradle the device without changing the gripon the device or provide support with the other hand. The magneticcoupling at the cradle thus along with the other features of the cradleand cradle neck connections aids in facilitating the smooth operation ofthe device with one hand.

Further objects of the invention are achieved by the embodiments definedin the dependent claims and in the detailed description of theinvention.

As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well (i.e. to have the meaning “at leastone”), unless expressly stated otherwise. It will be further understoodthat the terms “includes,” “comprises,” “including,” and/or“comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence ofstated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/orcomponents, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or moreother features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components,and/or groups thereof. It will be understood that when an element isreferred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it canbe directly connected or coupled to the other element or interveningelements maybe present, unless expressly stated otherwise. Furthermore,“connected” or “coupled” as used herein may include wirelessly connectedor coupled. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and allcombinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The steps ofany method disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exactorder disclosed, unless expressly stated otherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will be explained more fully below in connection with apreferred embodiment and with reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows the headset/headband combination cradled in the basestation,

FIG. 2 shows a section view of the headset in a 3d projection,

FIG. 3 shows the headset with an ear hook cradled in the base station,

FIG. 4 shows the base station with the cradle portion,

FIG. 4a shows an enlarged view of a detail of the cradle in the basestation shown in FIG. 4,

FIG. 4b shows a schematic cross-section through the cradle of FIG. 4 a,

FIG. 4c shows the headset and headband combination with the headsetturned away from the vertical position,

FIG. 5 shows the boom portion of the headset in a 3d projection,

FIG. 6 shows a side view of the headset electronic casing part,

FIG. 7 shows a 3d projection of the cradle part of the headband withoutthe headset mounted therein,

FIG. 8 shows the element in FIG. 7 from a different angle,

FIG. 9 shows an exploded view of the main parts of the headband,

FIG. 10 shows the flexprint of the headband in a front view,

FIG. 10a shows the flexpring of FIG. 10 in a side view,

FIG. 11 shows the headband in a 3d projection and sectioned,

FIG. 12 shows a detail of the headband in enlarged 3d projectional view,

FIG. 13 shows a sectional view of the ear muff of the headband,

FIG. 14 shows a 3d projection of the name tag,

FIG. 15 shows the name tag with a cheek spacer and

FIG. 16 shows the light display and underlying printed circuit board in3d projection, and

FIG. 17 shows an enlarged plan view of the cam follower disc and cammedsurface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In most of the figures a small vignette is provided displaying the x,yand z axis of the digital model of the embodiment of the invention fromwhich the figures are derived, in order to facilitate easier reading ofthe figures.

In FIG. 1 the base station 100, the wireless headset 200 and theheadband 300 are shown, with the headset 200 and the headband 300fastened to each other and placed in the base station 100. The headset200 is powered by a rechargeable battery 225 which is enclosed insidecasing parts thereof. In FIG. 2 a sectional view of the headset isshown, and here also the loudspeaker 226 is disclosed at an electronicsand housing part 230 of the headset. Distanced from the electronics andhousing part 230, a distal part 240 is provided at the end of a boom arm239. Inside the distal part 240 a microphone unit is located, comprisingone or more microphones 241. The base station 100 has a cradle 101 andthe headset 200 has a corresponding cradle-neck 201. As seen in FIG. 3,the headset 200 may be seated in the cradle 101 of the base station byway of the cradle-neck 201 being shaped to fit into the cradle 101. Thecradle 101 mounts charging output points 111, 112, and the cradle-neck201 of the headset 200 mounts charging input contact points 211, 212 andthese charging input points 211, 212 are connected to the rechargeablebattery 225 of the headset. The headset 200 may be cradled in a chargingposition as shown in FIG. 3 to ensure electrical connection between thebase station 100 and the rechargeable battery 225 through the electricalcontact points defined as output points 111, 112 of the base station andthe input points 211, 212 of the headset, respectively.

The wireless headset 200 has first attachment sites 203 at thecradle-neck 201 and further attachment sites 202 at the electronics andhousing part 230 for releasably attachment thereto of the headband 300to form a headband-headset assembly.

The headband 300 comprises a cradle portion 301 mounting charging outputpoints 311,312 providing a releasable mechanical attachment pointbetween this headband cradle portion 301 and the headset cradle-neckportion 201 and simultaneous electrical connection between the headbandcharging output points 311,312 and the cradle-neck input charging points211,212 of the headset 200.

The headband 300 also comprises a headband cradle-neck 320 (see FIG. 8)mounting charging input points 321,322 providing a releasable mechanicalattachment point between this headband cradle neck 320 and the basestation cradle 101 and simultaneous electrical connection between theheadband charging input points 321,322 and the base station chargingoutput points 111,112.

The charging input points 321,322 at the cradle-neck portion 320 of theheadband 300 and the charging output points 311,312 at the cradleportion 301 of the headband 300 are connected through electrical leads330, such that the headset battery 225 is chargeable through theheadband 300 when seated in the headband 300 and the headband 300 ismounted in the base station cradle 101.

The advantage of the above described arrangement is that the headsetbattery 225 may be charged from the base station 100 when used alone aswell as when used with the headband 300. In this way the user need notseparate the headband and headset from each other in order to facilitatecharging of the rechargeable battery. It is also noted that by providingthe headband with a cradle neck portion of its own with charging points,and fitting the cradle of the base station, a very secure andmechanically reliable fixation of the assembled headset and headband inthe base station may be provided, such that the added weight of theheadband will not compromise the establishment of a secure electricalconnection between the charging points of the base station 100 and therechargeable battery 225 in the headset 200.

The headband cradle-neck portion 320 and the headband cradle portion 301are mutually rotatable with respect to each other, allowing a boom arm239 of the headset 200 to be rotated to a position wherein it pointstowards the user's mouth when the headband 300 with the headset 200 ismounted on the head of a user. This is illustrated in FIG. 4 c.

This adjustment possibility allows the user to personalize the headbandand headset for the shape and proportions of his or her head, and itensures that the microphone unit 240 may always be positioned close tothe user's mouth.

The electrical leads 330 between the charging input points 321,322 atthe cradle neck portion 320 of the headband 300 and the charging outputpoints 311,312 at the cradle portion 301 of the headband 300 allow themutual rotational positioning between the headband cradle neck portion320 and the headband cradle portion 301 without disturbance to theelectrical connection. In this manner the charging of the rechargeablebattery 225 may take place when the headset, seated in the headband, isturned to any position with respect to the cradle neck portion 320. Thisis an important advantage to the user who, regardless of the turningpoint of the boom arm may cradle the headband with headset in the basestation and be sure of a good charging connection being established.

In FIGS. 10 and 10 a front view and side view are shown of theelectrical leads 330 inside of the headband 300. The leads 330 connectcharging input points 321, 322 and charging output solder points328,329. The leads 330 are provided in the shape of a flexprint element,wherein the electrical leads are provided as lanes on a flexible sheetmaterial, the lanes usually being generated in electrochemicalprocessing which is well known and will not be further described. Thecharging input points 321,322 are metal covered areas of the flexprintsheet material which are connectable from the outside through a suitablewindow in the cradle neck portion 320 of the headband 300. Each of thecharging output points 311, 312 constitute a multipart spring-loadedelectrical connection element, and are soldered to each their chargingoutput point 328, 329, respectively. From FIGS. 10 and 10 a it can beseen that the flexprint comprise a coiled portion 345 and a cradle neckextension 346 from a first end of the coiled portion and a cradleextension 347 from a second end of the coiled portion. As the flexibleprint board 330 is soft and bendable, it is possible to rotate thecradle extension 347 with respect to the cradle neck extension 346 whilethe coiled portion 345 absorbs the deformation. This rotation isnaturally within certain limits, but from the shown position where thecradle and cradle neck portions are aligned with each other, the cradleis to be rotated 140 deg to either side with respect to the cradle neck.This allows the microphone boom in the headset to be pointed to theuser's mouth with the headset at the right ear as well as at the leftear of the user. And this can be done without disconnection of theheadband and headset from each other, and any user may then withoutfurther ado take the headset to his or her preferred ear and adjust themicrophone boom arm to the right position with respect to the mouth.

In FIG. 9 it can be seen how the cradle-neck portion 320 is integrallymolded with a ring-shaped element 350 which features an internal cammedsurface 351. The cradle portion 301 is integrally shaped with a shellpart 302 and the shell part is connected to a circular disc-shaped camfollower disc 352 by a suitable connection means such as by use ofscrews 356. The screws 356 keep together the shell part 302 and the camfollower disc 352 and keep in place the holding elements 344, while theflexprint element 330 will be enclosed in between the shell 302 and thecam follower disc 352. The cam follower disc 352 and the shell 302 areassembled from each their side of the ring-shaped element 350, and forma sub-assembly, which is rotatable with respect to the ring-shapedelement 350.

In FIG. 11 a sectional view of a 3D projection of the headband is shownto better illustrate the above elements. The ring-shaped element 350with the cammed surface 351 is seen, and further opposed flanges 357between the ring-shaped element 350 and the cam follower disc 352 aredisclosed, which serve as bearing in both radial and axial directionbetween the cam follower disk 352 and the ring-shaped element 350. It isclear from the figure also that the cam follower disk is not massive butis shaped more like a wheel with spokes. This openness of the disk isacoustically important as it facilitates a more open fit, whereby theuser of the headband with the headset seated therein also will receive acertain amount of sound from the surrounding at this ear. Openings 318in the shell part 302 of the headband ensure that sound fromsurroundings may reach the ear and this enhances the comfort for theuser. Spring elements 360 are provided to ensure the springiness of theholding element 344.

Cam followers 358 are shaped integrally with cam follower disk 352, andare provided to flex towards the cam surface 351 in order to securelyposition the microphone boom arm at well defined positions. The camfollowers 358 are arranged around the circumference of the disk 352 andeach cam follower is provided at a flexible spring element 359 to ensurethat the cam followers 358 remain in forceful contact with cam surface351. An enlarged plane view of the cam follower disc 352 and cammedsurface 351 is provided in FIG. 17. The cam followers 358, of whichthere are four labeled 358 a, 358 b, 358 c and 358 d in FIG. 17 areevenly spaced around the circumference. As seen in FIG. 17 they areprovided such that two cam followers 358 a, 358 b opposite each otherwill both be at the top of a cam, while the two further cams followers358 c, 358 d will be at the bottom between two cam projections. In thisway two cam followers will be on their way “uphill” while the two otherswill be on their way “downhill” on the cammed surface. This ensures arather smooth operation when the headset boom arm is turned with respectto the brace across the head.

Also, in FIG. 11 the flexprint coiled portion 345 is seen positioned atthe inner side of the ring-shaped element 350 and enclosed between thecam follower disk 352 and the shell 302. At both sides of the coiledportion in the radial direction space is provided such that the coil 345may move inwardly and outwardly in the radial direction when thecradle-neck and cradle portions of the headband are moved with respectto each other. An outwardly-directed flange 362 is provided at thering-shaped element 350, and on this flange 362 the ear muff 363 may beattached.

Centrally in the cam follower disk an oblong opening 369 is provided andthrough this opening the sound from the loudspeaker 226 in the headset200 will be guided towards the ear of the user.

As seen in FIG. 12, the flange 362 has a triangular cut out portion 364which facilitates mounting of the earmuff 363 on the flange 362, as thecut out portion allows the ear muff 363 to be mounted in simple rationalmotion between the flange 362 and the ear muff 363. The earmuff 363 isshown in 3D projection in a sectional view, and here an inwardly flangedportion 365 can be seen, and this portion fits over the flange 362 inthe described manner. This allows easy exchange of the earmuff 363, andthis allows the user to choose the earmuff material and textureaccording to his or her liking.

As best seen in FIG. 4a , the base station 100 has in a surface regionat the cradle thereof 101 a first surface mounted magnetic means 113displaying a first magnetic polarization and a second surface mountedmagnetic means 114 adjacent thereto and displaying a second magneticpolarization which is opposite the first magnetic polarization. In FIG.4a the first magnetic means 113 is slightly larger than the secondmagnetic means 114. The magnetic means 113,114 are simple round magnetsbeing mounted in surface orifices to have an exterior surface flush withthe surrounding surface region of the cradle portion to which they areattached.

The headset 200 has at a corresponding surface region at the cradlingneck 201 at least a further surface mounted magnetic means 215displaying only one of the first or the second polarization. In this wayit is ensured that this further magnet is respectively attracted to andrepulsed from the two magnetic means 113, 114 of the bases stationcradle. As the magnets are arranged in the depicted embodiment, theheadset magnet 215 is arranged to be attracted to the first magnet 113of the base station cradle 101, and repulsed from the second magnet 114thereof. In this way the three magnets together aid to get the headsetcradle neck 201 rightly positioned within the base station cradle 101.This positioning is critical as small deviations from the right positionwill result in the charging points not gaining contact with each other.The larger first magnet 113 at the base station cradle 101 ensures agood holding force between the headset and the base station. Also, thecharging connection points 111,112 at the base station 100 are springbiased towards the headset input charging points 211,212 by spring means135 providing a spring biasing force 136 (see FIG. 4b ), and themagnetic attraction between the headset magnet 215 and the first magnet113 of the base station cradle aids to ensure a spring biasing force ofa minimum size between input and output charging points.

At the cradle neck portion 320 of the headband 300 first and secondsurface-mounted magnetic means 313,314 are provided. The magnetic means313,314 displays polarization to cause attractions forces there betweenand the first and second surface-mounted magnetic means 113,114 of thebase station 100 when the headband cradle-neck portion 320 is cradled inthe base station cradle 101. In this way it is ensured that both magnetsof the base station attract each its magnet in the headband when theheadband is cradled in the base station. A double attraction forceresults, and this facilitates the fixation of the headband-headsetassembly in the cradle 101 of the base station 100 and a forcefulfixation is required especially as the boom arm 239 and headset 200, inthe cradle portion 301 of the headband 300, may be rotated with respectto the cradle neck portion 320 of the headband 300 and cause off axisweight load on the cradle/cradle neck connection between base station100 and headband 300. Also, the headband-headset assembly isconsiderably heavier than the headset 200 alone and further magneticattraction aids to carry this weight in the cradle 101 of the basestation 100.

The skilled artisan would readily know that the two separate magnets maybe substituted by a single u-shaped magnet embedded in the surface or byelectromagnetic means. Possibly the magnetic means may be totallyembedded such that they are invisible to the naked eye. Also magnets,which are more or less protruding from the surrounding surface or whichare withdrawn to a subsurface level could be used.

The headset 200 has a loudspeaker 226 which is seated in an electronicsand housing part 230 at a proximal end thereof and a boomarm 239 with amicrophone 241 at a distal end 240 thereof, whereby the cradle-neckportion 201 is provided at the boomarm 239 adjacently to the electronicsand housing part 230. The boomarm 239 should preferably be a lightweightconstruction, which extends the microphone into proximity of the usersmouth as far as possible, however without causing off-axis weight loadon the headset when worn on the ear without the headband. Batterycharging points at the distal end of the boomarm or at the proximal endof the housing part as have previously been proposed are not desirable,as it makes a balanced cradling in a base station difficult. A cradleneck portion should be close to the center of gravity of the unit toensure cradling and secure holding and connection to a base station.

The base station cradle 101 comprises guiding surfaces 133, 134 (bestseen in FIGS. 4, and 4 a) which corresponds to opposed guiding surfaces233,244,333,334 of the boom arm 239 (seen in FIGS. 5 and 6) and of theheadband 300 (seen in FIGS. 7 and 8) at cradle neck portions thereof. Inthe presented embodiment, the guiding surfaces 133,134 of the basestation cradle are arranged opposed to each other and embrace parts ofthe headset or headband, whichever is seated in the cradle. Many otherways of providing mechanical interacting surfaces to fixate the headsetor the headband in the base station are possible, such as a simpleoutstanding hook on the base station and corresponding orifice on theheadset and headband, respectively.

The various magnetic means 313, 314, 215, 113, 114 and the charginginput and output connection points 111, 112, 211, 212, 321, 322 of thebase station, of the headset and of the head band cradle neck portionsare provided at the guiding surfaces 333, 334, 233, 324, 133, 134 andtwo electrical charging connection are placed respectively, one at eachside of a corresponding magnetic means. In FIGS. 4a , 5 and 8, themagnetic means 313, 314, 215, 113, 114 and the charging connectionpoints 111, 112, 211, 212, 321, 322 are shown, and at each instance, themagnets are placed centered between the guiding surfaces, and at eachside of the magnet in the space between the guiding surface and themagnet a charging connection point is provided. The guiding surfaces ofthe base station 100 will interact with opposed surfaces of the headset200 or headband 300 respectively and ensure sideway fixation of theheadset or headband in the base station whereas the magnets will aid toensure that a connection force between the mating electrical connectionpoints is maintained. Thus a distance relation exist between the guidingsurfaces of the base station and the guiding surfaces of the headset andheadband respectively in that the distance between the guiding surfacesof the base station correspond to the width of the boom arm and theheadband at the cradle neck portions thereof.

When the headset 200 is to be worn alone without the headband 300, somemeans of attaching the headset to the ear is needed, and to this end anearhook 260 is connectable to the headset 200 through an aperture 203provided at the cradle neck portion 201 of the headset. The earhook 260is seen in FIG. 3, and as displayed, the headset 200 may be seated inthe cradle 101 of the base station 100 with the earhook 260 mounted inthe aperture 203. As seen in FIG. 1, the headband 300 and headset 200assembly does not allow the earhook 260 to be mounted to the headset200, and also this would be counter-productive, as the both the earhook260 and the headband 300 serve to maintain the headset in an operationalposition on a user's head, but in each their unique and well knownmanner.

At the cradle portion 301 the headband 300 further comprises movableprotrusions 340, 341 sized to enter the earhook aperture 203 when theheadset 200 is connected to the headband 300. The protrusions 340, 341are provided on flexible stags 342,343 on each side of the cradleportion 301 of the headband. The stags 342, 343, are springy movable inthe direction away from each other, and as a result the headset cradleneck portion may be forced into the space between the stags forcingthese away from each other, and when the headset cradle neck is securedin the cradle 301 of the headband, the protrusions 340, 431 will enterthe through going aperture 203 from each their side and thus help tomaintain the headset 200 and headband 300 together.

The movable protrusions 340,341 are part of the cradle portion 301 ofthe headband 300 as seen in FIG. 7, and they are arranged adjacently tothe charging input and output points 311, 312, 211, 212 of the headband200 and headset 300 respectively when the headset is cradled in theheadband. Hereby it is ensured that the connection points for chargingmaintain a secure electrical connection when the headset 200 is cradledin the headband 300.

Apart from the protrusion mentioned above a further set of matingholding means are provided between headset 200 and headband 300. Thesecomprise a click in attachment site 202 on the headset 200 andcorresponding holding element 344 on the headband cradle part. Theattachment cites and holding elements are repeated on opposed sides ofthe headband and the headset respectively. The holding elements 344 aremounted springy such that they may click into and out of the attachmentcites 202 in a manner well known in the art.

As seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5 the boom arm 239 comprise a first arm 242and second arm 243 defining a through going oblong opening 246. As seenin FIG. 5 a name tag 247 is attached between the arms. The name tag isoptional for the user but offers a possibility of personalization of theheadset, and this could be an advantage in settings where numerousindividuals work with each their headset in the same room. The name tag247 is shown isolated in FIG. 14 in a 3D projectional view. The tag 247comprises a transparent display window part 250 and name holder 251where a slit formed opening 252 is defined between the display windowand the name holder 251. Into this slit formed opening the user mayslide a piece of paper (not shown) with an identity sign printed orwritten thereon, such that the sign can be read through the transparentdisplay window 250. When mounted between the arms of the headset boom239 the display window part 250 will be flush with the exterior surfaceof the two arms 242, 243 and the opening 252 will be between the armswhich prevent the paper with the identity sign thereon from falling out.The name tag 247 further has a holder part 253 arranged generallyperpendicular to the transparent display window 250 and name holder 251.The holder part 253 comprise usual tongue and groove connection elementsallowing the holder part to connect to corresponding tongue and groovesin the headset and thereby be securely seated between the arms of theheadset boom proximal to the cradle neck part thereof as seen in FIG. 5.

In FIG. 15 the name tag 247 is shown with a cheek-spacer 255, comprisinga loop-shaped addition provided in the angle spanned between the windowpart 250 and the holder part 253. The cheek-spacer 255 will prevent theboom arm 239 from touching the cheek of the user. Some users may notneed a cheek-spacer due to the proportions of their head, and thus theuser may choose to either use a name tag with or one without the cheekspacer 255. The cheek spacer 255 may be made in many ways being eitherloop shaped as shown or having some other shape, whereby the generalidea of the invention resides in the changeability between a nametagwith and one without the cheek spacer 255 depending on the user's needs.

As seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 the base station has a foot part 150 and anupright casing part 151 immovably connected to the foot part. The casingpart 151 is shaped as a six sided cube with six square and planesurfaces labeled 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. The cube 151 appear fused to thefoot part 150 at a corner constituted by the intersection of cubesurfaces 1, 2 and 3, such that surface 4 of the cube will appear angledaway from a vertical direction with relation to a desk top on which thefoot 150 is placed. The cube surface 3 will face towards the desk top atsimilar angle.

The cradle 101 is positioned on cube surface 4, adjacent to a top mostcorner, comprised of intersection of cube surfaces 4, 5 and 6, directlyopposite the corner fused with the foot part 150. The headset 200 withor without the headband 300 will rest at surface 4 when the headset iscradled for recharging of the battery 225. As best seen in FIG. 4, atcube surface 4 a rounded recess 7 is provided, wherein either theheadset casing part as seen in FIG. 3 or the earmuff (shown in FIG. 1)may be seated when the headset and/or the headband is cradled asdescribed above. Centrally in the recess a toggle button 8 is provided,such that the user may toggle between PC and line input to the headset.At the surface 3 the various lines to the base station are connected tothe base station in the usual manner, and this is not shown or describedin any further detail. Inside the cube 151 electronics such as awireless transmitter and control circuits for the recharging of theheadset battery is provided.

In order that the user may see the charging status of the battery of aheadset, a transparent light display 9 is provided to this effect on thesurface 4 of base station 100. A number of light diodes 20 are providedinside the cube, and illuminates the front of the display 9 through eachtheir light guide 11, 12, 13, 14 shaped integrally with the display 9.In FIG. 16 a corner of a printed circuit 15 board is shown with thediodes 20 mounted thereon. The light from each diode 20 will travelthrough each its light guide 11, 12, 13, 14 and exit through the display9. Dependent on the transparency properties of the material used for thedisplay 9 and light guides 11-14 the light from each diode 20 willeither appear in a rather sharply limited area, above the light guide,or appear in rather fuzzy manner with a strong intensity at a centralpoint and falling intensity going away from the central point. Bychoosing a very transparent material for the light guides 11-14 and thedisplay 9, a discrete display of four clearly defined areas can beachieved and each area may be lit independently of the others. On theother hand, a material which causes some dispersion of the light may bechosen, in the event that a more smooth display action is wished. On topof this the intensity of the light from the diodes 11-14 may be variableif wished. In a preferred embodiment a material is chosen which providesa fuzzy light, and the light intensity from the diodes is varied to theeffect that a smooth advance of an illuminated area on the display 9 isachieved corresponding to the charging status of the rechargeablebattery in the headset.

The invention is defined by the features of the independent claim(s).Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims. Any referencenumerals in the claims are intended to be non-limiting for their scope.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A combination of a base station, a wirelessheadset and a headband, the wireless headset being mountable on saidbase station, said base station comprising a cradle with electricalcharging output contact points, a first surface-mounted magnetic meansdisplaying a first magnetic polarization at said cradle, and a secondsurface-mounted magnetic means displaying a second magnetic polarizationpositioned adjacent said first surface-mounted magnetic means, saidfirst surface-mounted magnetic means having an opposite polarizationcompared to said second surface-mounted magnetic means and being largerin size than said second surface-mounted magnetic means, said wirelessheadset comprising attachment sites, a rechargeable battery, a cradleneck, electrical charging input contact points which contact saidelectrical charging output contact points when said cradle neck ismounted on said cradle, and a third surface-mounted magnetic meanshaving a polarization that attracts to said surface-mounted magneticmeans and is repelled by said second surface-mounted magnetic means, toproperly position said cradle neck in said cradle so that saidelectrical charging input contact points contact said electricalcharging output contact points, and said headband comprising holdingelements for said attachment sites, a cradle portion, a cradle neckwhich is mountable on said cradle of said base station, electricalcharging input contact points at said cradle neck for contacting saidelectrical charging output contact points of said base station,electrical charging output contact points at said cradle portion forcontacting said electrical charging input contact points of saidwireless headset when said wireless headset is mounted thereon, andfourth and fifth surface-mounted magnetic means at said cradle neckhaving polarizations that cause attractive forces with the first andsecond surface-mounted magnetic means of the base station when thecradle neck of the headband is mounted in the cradle of the basestation.
 2. The combination as claimed in claim 1, and wherein saidheadset comprises an electronics and housing part at a proximal endthereof, said electronics and housing part including a loudspeaker, anda boom arm that includes a microphone at a distal end thereof, andwherein the cradle-neck portion is located adjacent said electronics andhousing part.
 3. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein theheadband includes guiding surfaces at the cradle-neck portion thereof,wherein the headset includes guiding surfaces at the cradle-neck portionthereof, and wherein said base station includes guiding surfaces at saidcradle thereof which cooperate with said guiding surfaces of both saidheadband and said headset.
 4. The combination as claimed in claim 3,wherein the first and second magnetic means of the base station arelocated at the guiding surfaces thereof, the third magnetic means of theheadset is located between the guiding surfaces thereof, the fourth andfifth magnetic means of the headband are located between the guidingsurfaces thereof, and wherein respective electrical charging and outputcontact points are located on opposite sides of a corresponding magneticmeans.
 5. The combination as claimed in claim 4, wherein the guidingsurfaces of the base station comprise two opposed protruding wall partsspaced equal to a width of the boom arm and the headband at cradle-neckportions thereof wherein magnetic means and electrical charging contactpoints are located between two opposed protruding wall parts.
 6. Thecombination as claimed in claim 1, including spring means to bias saidelectrical charging output points outwardly of said base station, andwherein magnetic attraction between the magnets at the cradle of thebase station and the magnets of said headset or headband helps minimizespring biasing force required between respective electrical outputcontact points and electrical input contact points.